Archimedes Texts

93
see here, saith he, the Well, which representeth the Tube, see
here the gross vapours, from whence is taken the invention of
the Crystals, and see here lastly the sight fortified by the passage
of the rays through a diaphanous, but more dense and obscure
medium.

SAGR. This is a way to comprehend all things knowable, much
like to that wherewith a piece of marble conteineth in it one, yea,
a thousand very beautiful Statua's, but the difficulty lieth in be
ing able to discover them; or we may say, that it is like to the
prophesies of Abbot Joachim, or the answers of the Heathen
Oracles, which are not to be understood, till after the things
fore-told are come to passe.

SALV. And why do you not adde the predictions of the Ge
nethliacks, which are with like cleernesse seen after the event, in
their Horoscopes, or, if you will, Configurations of the Heavens.

SAGR. In this manner the Chymists find, being led by their

melancholly humour, that all the sublimest wits of the World
have writ of nothing else in reality, than of the way to make
Gold; but, that they might transmit the secret to posterity with
out discovering it to the vulgar, they contrived some one way, and
some another how to conceal the same under several maskes; and
it would make one merry to hear their comments upon the ancient
Poets, finding out the important misteries, which lie hid under
their Fables; and the signification of the Loves of the Moon,
and her descending to the Earth for Endimion; her displeasure
against Acteon, and what was meant by Jupiters turning himself
into a showre of Gold; and into flames of fire; and what great
secrets of Art are conteined in that Mercury the Interpreter; in
those thefts of Pluto; and in those Branches of Gold.

SIMPL. I believe, and in part know, that there want not in the
World very extravagant heads, the vanities of whom ought not to
redound to the prejudice of Aristotle, of whom my thinks you
speak sometimes with too little respect, and the onely antiquity
and bare name that he hath acquired in the opinions of so many
famous men, should suffice to render him honourable with all
that professe themselves learned.

SALV. You state not the matter rightly, Simplicius; There
are some of his followers that fear before they are in danger,
who give us occasion, or, to say better, would give us cause to
esteem him lesse, should we consent to applaud their Capricio's.

And you, pray you tell me, are you for your part so simple, as
not to know that had Arictotle been present, to have heard the
Doctor that would have made him Author of the Telescope, he
would have been much more displeased with him, than with those,
who laught at the Doctor and his Comments? Do you question